Obituaries

Harry Hammer

Judge Harry Hammer of Vernon died Monday, (December 20, 2010) at age 84. He served as a judge of the CT Superior Court for over 30 years. Born December 20, 1926 in Allentown, PA, he was the son of the late Rabbi Louis and Frances (Cantor) Hammer. He attended City College of New York prior to enlisting in the US Army during World War II. He graduated from the University of Connecticut and received his law degree from Columbia University Law School, New York in 1954. While in law school, he returned to the army and served as a First Lieutenant during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the CT State Bar for 55 years, and was also admitted to practice before the US District Court for Connecticut, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court. He was a member of the Connecticut State, Hartford County and Tolland County Bar Associations. Judge Hammer served in the Connecticut General Assembly during the 1959 session. He was Corporation Counsel of Rockville from 1956 to 1958. The late Governor Ella T. Grasso appointed him Deputy Secretary of the State in 1969 and he served in that position until 1975 while maintaining an active law practice. In 1975, Governor Grasso appointed him to the Court of Common Pleas, and he became a Superior Court Judge in 1978. He served on the Rules Committee of the Superior Court. Judge Hammer was highly respected by lawyers and judges alike, and presided over numerous major criminal and civil cases during the course of his distinguished career. He will be remembered for his keen intellect, scholarly devotion to the law, intense work ethic, and the compassion, respect and humor he showed to all who appeared before him. He leaves his wife, Marcella (Vennell) Hammer; his son, Joseph L. Hammer and wife Debra, and grandchildren Samuel and Lily of Wethersfield. He is also survived by Marcella's children Sheila Lake and husband Troy, Craig Boushee, Kevin Boushee and wife Tanya, Keith Boushee and wife Sheila, and grandchildren Elizabeth, Laura, Aedan, and Ian; Tara, Rachel, and Margaret; Katelyn, Anastasia and Amanda; Emily, Elena, Samuel and Elijah. He is survived by his sister, Sheila Cohen of Tamarac, FL. He was predeceased by his sister, Gladys Dobrutsky. His former wife Naomi M. Hammer also survives him. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi Seth Riemer officiating. Interment will follow in the Knesseth Israel Synagogue Section of Ellington Cemetery, Ellington. The family will receive relatives and friends Thursday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the home of his son, Joseph, 65 Broad St., Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Temple Beth Torah, 130 Main St., Wethersfield, CT 06109, or Hockanum Valley Community Council (HVCC), 29 Naek Rd., Suite 5a, Vernon, CT 06066. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Judge Hammer, please visit online at www. weinsteinmortuary.com.